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Round 2: Qua/comm Stadium TOYOTA TRUCKSfrHOR/PARTS UNLIMITED AMA u.s. SUPERCROSS SERIES By Eric Johnson Photos by Kinney Jones SANDIEGO,CA,JAN.16 - n a race that had it all - crashes, crash landings, block-passes, lead changes, and last-minute, lastbreath charges - Team Honda's battered and bruised Ezra Lusk launched his Mike_Goss laar-tuned factory Honda CR250 over the finish line first at San Diego's QuaJcomm Stadium. Despite being inadvertently landed upon by Team Suzuki's Greg Albertyn on the opening lap of the main event, Lusk shook it off, put his head down, and methodically picked his way through to the front to snatch his second consecutive AMA/Toyota Trucks Supercross win of the season. But it didn't come easily - or without a price. In claiming the victory, the fiercely determined Lusk had to fend off a spirited ride through the pack by defending champ Jeremy McGrath, who by the penultimate lap of the race was beginning to nip at the Honda's rear fender. Nevertheless, it was Lusk - visibly in pain after rolling off the track - who prevailed after the dust and screaming had finally subsided. '1 got landed on on the first lap, and when I got comfortable on the bike again, my back just started spazzing out and it hurt really bad," said a relieved Lusk. "Right after the race, we put a bunch of ice on it and the swelling is now going down . "I really wanted to win this race," he added. "I wanted to ride a smart race, but then, after a' few laps, I got settled in and realized I could go a little faster, so I picked up the pace, and I . caught a glimpse back and saw Jeremy coming, so I knew I needed to get up and try and get away before he got on up there on me. I was more hurting at the beginning, and I didn't feel bad until I got off the bike. It's all pretty good. I'm still surprised with the two wins. I had a lot of time off this year and had a lot of time to think about racing. I'm really looking forward to going to Phoenix and getting another race out of the way, and another race under the belt." And what was Lusk's take on McGrath? "He's not number one for nothing," Lusk said. "Number one five times in the last six years. I'm sure he'll find the right groove and find a way to get back up there, but hopefully I'll find my groove and get good-enough starts, and it will be a way before he can get there." N ow in his second yea r with the well-heeled Mazda/Chaparral/Yamaha race outfit, McGrath atoned for an uncharacteristically poor start by placing in the runner-up position. "You know, I felt strong, but I got a shitty start, man," he said. "My Yamaha is working good, but my bike has a lot of traction, and it's hard to hold it down. We're going to work on it this week. The race was mentally good for me, because I was strong at the end of 20 laps. I need to get better starts. I just need to get the ball rolling and get some confidence. 1 got right on him, but Ezra is riding good and he's coming in here with the confidence, and I'm trying to build some, so that's basically where I am at." For the second consecu ti ve Sa turday night, Mike LaRocco piloted his 6 So far, so good for Ezra lusk: With his win in San Diego, the Team Honda rider has now won the first two rounds of the AMA U.S. Supercross Series.